Evidence for an acidic compartment in sea urchin eggs (Paracentrotus lividus): role at fertilization

The characteristics of [14C]methylamine accumulation by isolated cortices were measured in eggs from three species of sea urchins: Paracentrotus lividus, Arbacia lixula and Sphaerechinus granularis. In all cases, the results pointed to the existence of an acidic compartment in the cortical zone. In P. lividus eggs, cortical granules did not participate in proton storage which likely took place in pigment granules. [14C]Methylamine accumulation was dramatically reduced by monovalent cation ionophores (monensin and nigericin) and by NH4Cl, but not by valinomycin. ATP depletion only partially affected the isotope uptake. Simultaneous measurements of intracellular pH and of external titratable acidity during ammonia treatment of eggs, indicate that after fertilization, eggs increased their capacity to concentrate hydrogen ions in an intracellular store. Following insemination, cortices from P. lividus eggs exhibited a 3-fold increase in [14C]methylamine accumulation. It is concluded that the egg cortical area contains acidic organelles sequestering hydrogen ions by means of an electrogenic H+ pump, and that this mechanism, enhanced at fertilization, participates in a local alkalinization. The role of such a mechanism is discussed.